'Report on the Preliminary Survey of the Route for the Central Persia Telegraph Line' [‎128v] (261/300)

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We crossed the nullah and taking a southerly direction entered the Paskul
range, and followed one of many narrow paths, which rejoin further on,
A graveyard is noted at r70 miles, and we here descend into a nullah, emerg
ing from which we enter the Talag-i-Potag hills. We negotiate a short,
but very steep, stiff and rough pass, known as the Godar Katera, at 5’50 miles,
w’kich proved too much for two of my camels as they fell and had to be un
loaded, and it was with great difficulty we got them on their legs again. A
solitary mimosa tree, known as the Kalogan Kalieer, is passed a few yards to
the left at the 6th mile, and is said to mark the spot where a Baloochee was
robbed and murdered. On the opposite side of the road, there is a small
'well, which generally contains wvater, but was dry when we passed. We
are now in open ground and, passing a graveyard at 6‘45 miles, continue
over a good patli till 8*40 miles, where a road branches off to the right
to Balm Kelat. We emerge on to the small Porkonook plain at 9 miles,
and at 9'40 pass some cleared ground, which has evidently once been under
cultivation. The track now continues through mimosa jungle, and across the
plain of Kandur Sunt, and reaches the huts of Kastag to the left at 11’50
miles. We continue to the end of the plain and, crossing the Kanagani Kaur,
camp on its right hank at 1216 miles. Seah Kuh, a black rocky peak, bears
244° from our camp, which is surrounded by low dome-shaped slate-stone hills.
The road, with the exception of 2 miles in the Rotag hills, is good.
Kastag to Dazinbast.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
M iles.
9th March 1899
9
Dazinbast,
18*04
165*82
865 feet.
For the first 2^ miles of our march, the track lies in a narrow valley,
sparsely clad with mimosa and Peesh, when we emerge on to the Mash
Geneganee Gand, an open plain, on which were some Balooch encampments,
possessing flocks and camels. These Baloochees were said to be migratory.
The Poreganee Kaur is entered at 3’f)0 miles, and thick Peesh jungle is noticed
here. We enter a range of low disconnected hills at 3*20 miles, but the
country again opens out at 6 miles, and a hill close to our left is said to be Gogo.
The Gheshtan Kaur is crossed at 6‘20 miles, and, keeping on the right jbank
we rejoin the Kaur at 8 miles, and following its course we go due east over very
rough ground. On either side are sharp, rocky peaks running east and west, the
valley being only 100 to 150 yards wide. Adainek menzil is passed at 10 70
miles. This was said to be a regular halting place, and there was a good supply
of rain-water when we passed. A narrow defile is met at 11*75 miles, and Gv\ am
Zangian, also a halting place, is noted at 12 25 miles. The going since the 9th
mile h;is been stony and rough, with a sharp descent. The track leaves the
Kaur at 13 miles, and ascends on to a stony plain, which is traversed in a
south-easterly direction, and along the right bank of the Kaur. At 14 miles,
a bifurcation takes place, the track to the right going to Kalantoo, while we fol
low the left, and at 14*75 miles again descend into the Kaur. GwarManzil, the
boundary between Persian and Kelat-Baloochistan, is reached at 15 miles.
Crossing the Kaur, we ascend the left bank, and And ourselves on a second stony
plain. A good track for 2J miles over this plain brings us to a small nullah at
17*60 miles, descending which we rejoin the Kaur at IS miles, and camp in it
at 18 miles.
Dazinbast to Sunt-i-Sir.
Date.
No. of
March.
Route.
Intermediate
Miles.
Total
Miles.
10th March 1899
10
Sunt-i-Sir, 200 feet
19 03
184*85